Sanitary garment



May 15, 1934. 1.. K. BADE SANITARY GARMENT Filed April 7, 1932 INVENTOR. L. K. BADE.

Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The invention relates to sanitary garments and more particularly to a novel and useful device for supporting a catamenial pad and attaching same to the wearer.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be, learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claim.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:---

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan of a pouch or carrier for a sanitary pad, with parts broken away to show the construction;

Fig. 3 is a transverse horizontal section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views taken on lines 44 and 55 of Fig. 2 respectively.

The invention is directed to providing a novel and useful device for supporting a catamenial pad and for attaching sameto the wearer. An important object of the invention is to provide a pouch or carrier for receiving a catamenial pad or sanitary napkin of standard commercial form'and'enveloping same so as to protect the garments of the wearer; the pouch being formed of moisture-proof fabricand so shaped and constructed as to substantially conform to the shape of the pad when in use. designed to provide a maximum of comfort, convenience and cleanliness, and to permit ready disposal of a soiled napkin and replacement of a clean one.

Another object of the invention is to provide a -"combined napkin-support'ng carrier or pouch and a belt or other means of attaching same to the body of the wearer. An important feature of the invention comprises'novel means for releasably securing the napkin-carrier to the belt and cooperatively securing the sanitary napkin to the carrier itself, thereby providing a vvery secure but easily releasable connection of the various parts. The novel attaching means obviates entirely the use of pins or other adventitious fas- The pouch or carrier is' preferably run along the fold so as to maintain of sliding or relative movement therebetween during use. The pouch is also constructed so as to automatically conform to the pad in use and to sufficiently envelop same so as to prevent escape of any moisture from the combined pad and pouch. The pouch is preferably formed of a single piece of material of the kind indicated and is so formed and constructed that leakage is prevented, while a maximum of comfort to the wearer is maintained. Furthermore, means are provided for permitting ready removal and. replacement of napkins without inconvenience or discomfort to the user. An adjustable belt of simple and comfortable construction is preferably provided with the pouch and is designed to cooperate with the napkin-attaching means on the pouch, whereby the napkin may be attached to the pouch, and the pouch to the belt, in one simple and eflicient operation, without employto" slightly grip the edgesof the napkin v3 when same is carried inthe pouch, and a seam 4 is 1 0 said overlapping relationship and impart proper shape to the pouch. In shaping the pouch, the piece of goods preferably tapers slightly from a relatively wide central position to somewhat narrower ends. The folded-in portions 2, sewed to the pouch along the fold and also along the inner. edge at 7, provides suitable reinforcement along the sides of the pouch.

In imparting the desired shape and conformability to the pouch, the central portion thereof is preferably left substantially free to expand laterallmthe reinforcing strips 2 being preferably terminated short of said central portion 8, whereby the side edges may expand substantially to the full width. In imparting the desired shape and strength to said central portion 8, the seams 4 and '7 may be run the full length of the pouch, and preferably a plurality of vertical tucks or gathers 10 are made in the sides of the pouch as shown.

The invention-provides means for firmly but releasably securing the sanitary napkin in the pouch itself, so as to prevent any sliding or punching thereof. As embodied, snap-fastening devices 14 and 15 may be provided in the bottom of the pouch adjacent either end thereof and preferably located a distance apart slightly greater than the length of the pad of absorbent material provided in the longest standard napkin of usual commercial design. In accordance with the invention, said snap-fasteners 14 and 15 are adapted to cooperate with the loose gauze ends of the sanitary napkins, which normally extend beyond the ends of the absorbent pad itself. Thus the snap-fasteners 14 and 15, cooperating with the conforming button or plug member which they are adapted to receive, provide a very simple and effective means for securing the gauze ends of the napkin to the pouch. The button members 19 and 20 (Fig. 4), which are adapted to seat themselves in fasteners. 14 and 15 respectively, will easily bite through and clamp the projecting gauze ends of the napkin without interfering with the effectiveness of the fasteners and will very effectively secure the gauze itself, so as to prevent slipping thereof.

The invention provides means for attaching the napkin pouch or carrier 1 to the wearer, said attaching means preferably cooperating in fastening or securing the napkin to the pouch. As embodied, an adjustable belt or girdle 30, formed of suitable elastic ribbon or the like, is constructed with an adjustable sliding buckle 31 which cooperates with a flat metal ring 32 for permitting adjustment in length of the belt by means of the double-looped-portion 33 thereof. The belt is provided with front and rear depending straps 35 and 36 respectively, which are preferably slidably connected to the belt by means of sewed-together loops 37. The depending straps are adjustable in length, being provided with suitable adjusting buckles 38 as shown.

The embodied means for attaching the pouch to the belt comprises straps 39 and 40 depending from the front and rear straps 35 and 36 respectively, being looped over the fiat rings 41. Suitable fastener buttons or plugs 50 and 51 are attached to the bifurcate ends of straps 39 and 40. Said buttons 50 and 51 are adapted to cooperate with snap fasteners on the outer surface of the pouch at'the ends thereof to secure the latter to the belt. As shown, the end buttons 50 and 51 cooperate with fasteners 52 and 53 at the extreme ends of the pouch. The bifurcated at-' tachment of the straps to the spaced-apart fasteners on the pouch provides a distribution of stresses which keeps the pouch properly spread and prevents bunching or buckling thereof.

Suitable means are provided for securely fastening the snap fasteners 14 and 15 to the bottom of the pouch, so as to strengthen the assembly and prevent any possible leakage at the points of attachment. As shown, reinforcing strips 1'? of tape or the like are disposed across the inner surface of the bottom of the pouch at either end thereof so as to act as fillers between the inner and outer portions of the snap fasteners, and said strip may be fastened to the pouch edges by the seams 4 and '7. Similar reinforcement is provided for the studs or buttons 52 and 53 at the ends of the pouch, a strap or tape 54 being run across the end of the pouch and clamped thereto by the buttons, as shown in Fig. 3.

The invention embodies means for protecting the user from any possible discomfort due to the snap fasteners. As embodied, covering pieces or shields 60 overlie both sets of snap fasteners at the ends of the pouch. Said shields 60, composed preferably of the same material as that constituting the pouch, are sewed to the side edges of the pouch near the ends thereof. The gauzefastening studs or buttons 19 and 20 are mounted I adjacent the inner faces of said shields, being actually supported and. attached to the inner transverse straps 17 which are looped around the space between the inner surfaces of the pouch l and shields 60 as shown in Fig. 4. The transverse ends of the shields 60 are left open to permit introduction of the gauze ends of the pad to be fastened therewithin.

In operation, a fresh napkin 3 will be inserted into the pouch 1 and folded-in edges 2 will slightly overlap or grip the edges of the napkin, thereby confining the same and preventing substantial slipping or shifting thereof. The loose gauze ends of the napkin will be readily tucked under the shields 60 and simultaneously attached to the pouch'by means of the fastening snap buttons 14, 19 and 15, 20 which will clamp the thin gauze securely. The remaining length of the gauze ends may be out off if desired, or they may be folded back beneath the shield to form a protective pad-like filling. The length of the pouch and spacing of the fasteners 15 is such as to accommodate napkins and pads of varying lengths within usual commercial sizes. The removal of a soiled napkin can be effected daintily and without inconvenience by merely pulling on the outside of the shields to loosen the fastening snapbuttons.

The shape and construction of the pouch itself prevents possibility of leakage and especial provision therefor is made in the areas where the greatest amount of moisture occurs. Thus the folded-over edges 2 are stopped short of the central portion of the pouch and in said central portion 8 there is nothing to break the moisture-proof surface of the material forming the pouch. Furthermore, it will be noted that the entire bottom of thepouch is seamless and unbroken in the portion where the napkin is carried.

The pouch itself is very readily washable and can be replaced by a fresh pouch whenever desired because it is interchangeable with others of similar structure, any of which can be readily attached to any belt of the type illustrated. Furthermore, the pouch and belt are made of relatively light and flexible material and can be folded into a very small space for carrying, and a small packet may be provided for enveloping the entire device.

The bilateral spacing of the sets of snap i'as--- teners for thegauze ends and also for attaching the pouch to the belt distributes the fastening and supporting stresses on the assembled pouch and pad so that the device maintains the desired shape in use. Bunching or distortion of the pad because of lengthwise pull is prevented and the entire absorbent surface of the pad is exposed and spread out, while the pouch is maintained in position to fully protect the unexposed and non-contacting portions thereof.

While I have shown one set of fastener devices for attaching the pad to the pouch and another for connecting the pouch to the belt, it will be understood that a fastener or fasteners could be used to perform both functions. If desired, the gauze ends of the pad could be doubly secured by attachment to the end fasteners 52, 53, or conversely the belt could be provided with straps for cooperating with the gauze fasteners 14 and 15.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claim with out departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:"' A device for supporting a catamenial pad, comprising a pouch having its greatest width in the middle and tapering toward. either end, transversely extending cross members insert from each end of the pouch, cooperating snap button fasteners carried respectively by the said transversely extending cross members and the pouch, adapted to bite through and clamp the usual gauze envelope of the catamenial pad, thereby securing the gauze in place about the pad and securing engagement, for giving freedom of movement and" a flexible fit to the article.

LILLIAN K. BADE. 

